A candidate who barely made it out of the primary ended up leading Kentucky Republicans to one of their most successful election days in recent history.

Matt Bevin will be just the second Republican governor of Kentucky since 1971, a distinction he earned Tuesday with 53 percent of the vote — 9 percentage points better than Democrat Jack Conway. Independent Drew Curtis had less than 4 percent of the vote.

Louisville businessman Matt Bevin will be the next governor of Kentucky, just the third Republican to hold the office in 65 years. Bevin defeated Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway despite poll results showing Conway with a five point lead a week before the election.

In an unexpected election night victory, Kentucky Representative Mike Harmon has been elected State Auditor. Harmon, a Republican, defeated Democrat Adam Edelen, who would have assumed a second term had he won Tuesday night.

Democrat Andy Beshear has narrowly defeated Republican state Senator Whitney Westerfield to become the state’s next Attorney General. Beshear is the son of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and is just one of two Democrats to win elections Tuesday night.